Bảo Lộc Pass is the most challenging stretch on the TP.HCM – Đà Lạt route: about 10 km of continuous steep gradients and curves on National Highway 20, connecting the Đồng Nai plains with the Bảo Lộc plateau. Buses take about 20–30 minutes to cross the pass, but this section determines whether your journey will be smooth or exhausting.
Where is Bảo Lộc Pass and how long is it?
- Location: on National Highway 20, between Đạ Huoai and Bảo Lộc city (Lâm Đồng).
- Length: about 10 km, climbing from the lowlands up to the Bảo Lộc plateau.
- On the journey: buses from TP.HCM usually reach the foot of the pass after about 3 hours 15 minutes, roughly halfway through the 300 km trip to Đà Lạt.
- Recognizable landmarks: the Đức Mẹ An Bình statue by the pass road and tea hills that begin to appear as the bus reaches Bảo Lộc.
Is Bảo Lộc Pass dangerous?
For regular route buses, no — drivers cross the pass daily and drive slowly. The real risk of the pass lies in the weather:
- Rainy season (around May to November): the pass has experienced major landslides, with periods requiring temporary road closures and rerouting, adding 1–2 hours to the journey.
- Thick fog in the late afternoon and at night, with visibility sometimes dropping to just a few dozen meters.
- Heavy trucks descend the pass slowly, making self-driving motorcyclists easily squeezed when overtaking.
Before traveling during the rainy season, check the day's traffic updates for National Highway 20 — if there is an incident on the pass, the bus operator will notify you of the revised estimated arrival time.
What is the safest time to cross the pass?
| Pass crossing time | Visibility | Best chosen when |
|---|---|---|
| Morning (7–11 AM) | Best, fog has cleared | Self-driving, or wanting to see the tea hills |
| Noon – early afternoon | Good, but frequent showers in the rainy season | Taking a daytime bus |
| Late afternoon – evening | Poor, thick fog | Should only travel by bus |
| Late night | Poor but roads are empty | Taking an overnight sleeper bus, sleeping through the pass |
If taking an overnight bus, it usually crosses the pass between 1 and 3 AM — you will be asleep and have nothing else to worry about. If self-driving, completely avoid the late afternoon and night hours.
Self-drive or take the bus?
The 300 km journey with 10 km of pass in the middle is not difficult for experienced car drivers, but quite tiring on a motorbike: steep gradients, many trucks, and another 100 km after the pass before reaching Đà Lạt. For small groups, a sleeper bus or a private car with a driver is usually a more relaxing choice — you can sit back and rest while crossing the most challenging section.
Stops around Bảo Lộc
Buses usually stop for a break in Bảo Lộc city right after crossing the pass. If traveling by private car, you can visit Tâm Châu tea hills or Dambri waterfall, about 20 km from central Bảo Lộc — remember to add 1–2 hours to your schedule.
Fares and Go365 running schedules
| Vehicle type | Price | Departure times |
|---|---|---|
| 34-seat sleeper | 400.000 ₫/guest | 10:00 · 12:00 · 14:00 · 17:00 · 22:20 · 22:30 · 23:30 |
| 24-seat Cabin | 520.000 ₫/guest | 10:00 · 12:00 · 14:00 · 17:00 · 22:20 · 22:30 · 23:30 |
| Sleeper cabin | 600.000 ₫/guest | 10:00 · 12:00 · 14:00 · 17:00 · 22:20 · 22:30 · 23:30 |
| Private 4-7 seater (whole vehicle) | 3.000.000 ₫/vehicle | Time chosen by guest |
| Private 16-seater (whole vehicle) | 5.500.000 ₫/vehicle | Time chosen by guest |
| Private Limousine 9-11 seater (whole vehicle) | 7.000.000 ₫/vehicle | Time chosen by guest |
Prices and schedules are taken from the Go365 booking system, updated on 21/09/2026. Prices may change on holidays and during peak season — the figure displayed at booking is the final amount.
Pick-up and drop-off points
Pick-up in Hồ Chí Minh: 95 Nguyễn Duy Dương.
Drop-off in Đà Lạt: 86 Khe Sanh.
The exact pick-up point depends on the trip and vehicle type you choose; for private cars, pick-up is at your door according to the address you provide when booking.
Running times, vehicle types, and actual fares for the Sài Gòn – Đà Lạt route are available on the Sài Gòn to Đà Lạt buses page on Go365. To find out the total distance and travel time for the entire route, see How many km from Sài Gòn to Đà Lạt.
Photo: Deo Bao Loc.jpg — Khanhpham1996 at Vietnamese Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
